Pipestoneflyguy

Blah - minus 35 in Lake Louise this morning...

I like....but I am about as poetic as a set of Ikea instructions, so I'm passing on making an attempt

I had a 6wt crosscurrent - basically ditto what flyslinger posted It is one of the ones I gave away when I got my helios (5wt) - just didn't use it anymore

Ditto on Flyfusion subscription coupon at the show - I missed out last year

The wife tricked me into watching "Catch and Release" - its a SCAM, its just a chick flick with a clever title, watching Kevin Smith trying to flyfish will make you pull out your own hair LOL and after Jennifer Garner made me feel guilty about being a C&R angler I started cheering for her two-timing dead ex LOL One of my Fav fishing Movies is Clay Pigeons (OK, its not really a fishing movie) When Vince Vaughn see's the "floater" and starts yelling "ALARM ! MAN OVERBOARD" then to top it off with using a spin rod to tow the body ashore, too funny - the fact that Joaquin keeps going back and fishing the same lake despite new never catching a fish is something I am sure many of us can relate to. Another movie that has some flyfishing in it that I watched last year was Jindabyne - it was not what I expected but turned out to be one of the most moving films I have seen in years - Its a powerful drama that is not for everybody, but I personally really enjoy movies that leave you sitting in your chair pondering life long after the TV screen goes blue. Some of my fav classics include: Mad Max, The Rivers edge, The Last Supper, Very Bad Things, The Thing, True Romanace, No Country For Old Men. I also love westerns, especially those filmed locally. I am a big fan of the evolved mini series as well (Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, The Pacific, Generation Kill, Band of Brothers) - I watch alot of forign and B movies as well. The movie my wife hates the most (and belive me its a big list) is "There Will be Blood", I always end spending the next few days after watching it wondering around the house yelling "BASTARD IN A BASKET !" repeatedly, in my best Daniel Day Lewis voice.

Hey Peter Would you mind PM'ing the contact info for the dentist Deb's parents go to. I need to get my "CMH Rossignol" shaped gap in my mouth bridged again. I just broke another fang off, and another tooth is also cracked, so I have to upgrade to a 6 tooth bridge now.......friggin powder straps, seemed like a good idea at the time, (and to be honest, back then, losing a ski would have been about 30% of the winter budget.) Anyhoo I just got a quote from my dentist in Banff, and they want $ 8975.21 and I've only got about 700 bucks left on my plan for 2011 so that is just not going to work for me. PS FLYinGUY - would love to check out who your friends recommend as well. Thx

Can't wait to see the first "extreme weekend warrior" wear an avi beacon and backcountry bag into Laggans today. Especially when that guy usually has a nice big raspberry on his cheek "because the shop didn't deburr my edges properly",....good times....

B~ - I've had a shift that lasted as long as 36 hours (that 5 truck pile up a couple years ago) with the only break consisting of an gas station microwave disgusto-sub wolfed on the fly. Shifts going 24 hours before relief (major road closure / storm / mvc's) were not unusual during major events during that assignment blahhh. If your still on shift when you read this tonight I'll start sympathizing (insert emoticon with tiny violin) ha ha seriously look at the good side, OT justifyes buying more gear !

Hi Doc Bow is open all year - through the golf course is pretty good, lots of local pressure keeps it challenging. Water should begin dropping pretty fast so you may be hunting for trenches depending when you come out. Browns are below the falls. Swing by Monods across the road from the Info center (where you'll get you license) - you should be able to get some good tips or suggestions in the there. Beautiful time to be outside enjoying the banks !

I'm on crossbow (an Alberta ninja, LOL)- last year a trophy whitey managed to stay about 10 metres out of range so I'll be out this weekend seeking redemption and a full freezer

Absolutely P~ As long as it's cured (dry and cold) & been at least 24 hours after pouring Choose a day after a hot sunny day (prefereably a couple in a row) a lower the humidity the better - right now would be good time actually It will give you longevity and help prevent stains, and make them much easier to remove.

I think its possible to catch 70 fish in two hours - It is not unusual for a small alpine Lake to light up like a pinball machine if your there at the right time and condition - I have had outings that I probably could have racked up 70 fish in two hours, but I gotta ask, why bother ? - I know, by nature, as fly anglers, we are typically a little OCD but come on - was this fella laughing like a mad scientist, getting more and more excited with each fish hoping to hit 100, at what point is the fun gone, and continued fishing constitiutes nothing more than needlessly abusing the resource. Seriously, if numbers are the goal, why not just get a net or a stick of dynomite an 'ave at 'er ! Earlier this summer we went to a trophy lake in BC, we set up the two 10 year old girls with us with a stick, 3 feet of line and a couple worms and a simple hook. They proceeded to catch (and bucket release) over 40 sculpins in less than half an hour. I only caught two rainbows. So based on simple statistical analysis, the next guide I hire will be a ten year old girl......is this one gonna go all winter....

I remember a few years back when Florida had a program where you stopped and swapped your Canadian plate for a Florida plate instead - back when gangs were stealing road detour signs and using them to send tourists down dead end roads to be robbed. I think almost anywhere is both safe or dangerous depending on how you carry and present yourself. We also have a sweet old retired couple that disappeared out of Edmonton, and no real truth or answers seem forthcoming, and thats a mystery unsolved in our own backyard. Maybe mexicans are scared to come here too.... Sandy and I are going to mexico this winter and ironically the only person I have ever known first hand, to be murdered, was a friend from Lake Louise, he had driven his car back and forth from Costa Rica some odd 20 times without a violent incident, but on his last ever trip driving before retiring, he was stopped and murdered by local corrupt policemen. Despite how #$#$ed up that is - I would not ever let something like that stop me from living my life - I think surpressing the fear of the unkown is something we actively have to do or face become reclusive shut-ins afraid of the world. my 2 cents

Yeah, put it upside-down on your head and be thankful Orvis sent you a free hat

Have an outa-towner visiting tonight with some Aussies, pending a first-person weather forcast (look up at 2-3am lol) if its clear were hiking up fairview Mtn for lights and sunrise - should be nice

I didn't know you could buy those ! coool, but you don't need em I've been using regular old basket filters for years, just cut a small slice in the center and carefully push it over the shaft and slide it down, then fold the outer edges over the outer edge of the basket, outside the pot, press on the lid, which will now fit snugger and have at er. Timmies has both course and fine grind - I am back onto fine now that I use the filter. Once you get used to doing it you don't even need the slit, just a drop of water in the center, and then just push the shaft through, do it carefully and it is actualy tight on the shaft. Leave the filter about a cm higher than the seive at the shaft (OK at this point I am just seeing how many times I can use the word "shaft" in one post) - anyway you get the idea - it works. two tips, keep the heat as low as possible but still percolating (vigorous percolating with the filter will cause boil over) and keep in mind it takes less time with the filter to strengthen up -

You'll have stellar time - be prepared for rain this weekend though Stop by on your way in or out - hot tub might be nice if its chilly and wet - I'll be turning wrenches on my jeep most of the weekend - pm'd where to find me - can loan you a park freq radio if needed.

Admittedly I know very little about managing or running a site but I have noticed that the 4x4 site I frequent automatically recognizes and signs me in from multiple computers. I have noticed the FFC auto sign-in seems to recognize only one computer, and makes me resign in everytime I switch. Is it feasable to have that option here ? Just curious...the fewer passwords I have to remember the better. I'm getting old LOL

I found a huge selection of CD cases at the salvation army store, most are only about a buck each

Be realistic about your level of training and control - have you tested this control in a real life bear or moose encounter, if not, assume your dog will ignore your commands as a precaution. I would seriously doubt a 1 year old high energy dog is under any real control, at least to a level that he would be safe in the back country off leash. Try having your dog sit in front of a bowl of irresistable food (like hamburger or a steak), have a friend with a well trained dog park their dog within reach of that same food, waiting. walk a couple hundred metres away, allow your dog to start eating. Then stop him, and call him to you before he is finished eating, if he is unwilling to walk away on one command to "come" then don't expect him to respond to any commands in a wildlife encounter. This is a simple control test which isolates and challenges a number of instinctual urges and measures your true level of control as pack leader. My dog has been my companion fishing for 12 years, we have shared hundreds of amazing days and adventures together just be realistic about risks, and what your doing to mitigate them to ensure you both stay out there for years to come.

LOL - Sitting back and watching the show after "lighting" up Calgarians on cultural identitiy issues IS part of Calgary's culture. Seriously - I think your assessment is spot on - Calgary and Alberta in general is overflowing with culture, In the east the focus is diverse, in the west it is clear and concise - the grass is always greener.....

That's scary (fishpro) For that to happen, a person using bells would have had to actually feed a bear. (or allow a bear to be fed, as in leaving food waste behind) Kinda like pretending to cock my fishing rod like a shot gun - I have actually used that action to demonstrate how learned behaviour works (work great in areas like here where bear's typically face a good deal of hazing if they enter human areas) 10-4 P - BTW for those reading Princess auto has cheap cow bells various sizes and shapes.

Hey Peter, My bells are loud - and actually a couple times in my natural hunting blind, I rattled them to get a bear away from the meadow I was stalking. A bud and I did some experiments and you can definatly hear the bells before regular level talking (human ears of course). Alot of hikers count on talking so I think they can still be usefull. I know alot of experienced backcountry guys like yourself that hate them. I usually pack them away in places with good visibility - High risk areas (like along most of the pipestone) I do have some confidence in them. Dogs - forgot that one, thanks for mentioning SD- I have been an advocate for "WELL-trained" dogs in the past - I have an elkhound which was originally bred specifically for cornering and holding large undulates - I have always been able to control her completely in front of bears (she has always been intrisically afraid of grizzlies, ears back, walking backwards kinda stuff, but still adhered all commands) - this spring we encountered a bear about 50m away on a steep uphill trail (mud lake) and she totally freaked out and came running behind me - I can only attribute that reaction to her self recognition of her age and strength waining, she is now 12 years old - this really shocked me and to be honest I am now leaving her behind on most riverside hikes. I think, like any decision/action in the back country, one has to be brutally realistic about assessing their dogs capabilities and their own level of owner control. Tough thing when those big sad eyes give me "that look" that all dog owners know, but I am biting the reality bullit on this one, she is just not up to it anymore and I don't want to risk her, or my, safety. (damn - took me six years of work to train her...)

Geez - we sure love this topic - despite the feeling I could cut and paste the same reply every year I see alot of value in this on-going discussion because the key to surviving is being proactive - so much discussion orients around what to do once the bear is encountered, but the reality is, once your at that phase of an interaction, you have already failed and what happens after that is largely out of your hands. If I can offer some observations, use the info as you will....keep in mind I fish in the middle of the most concentrated bear area in the country, I have had more encounters than I could count, I almost always fish alone - and I think about this stuff constantly....especially 5 km in at dusk on darkening trails LOL Feeling like an idiot is OK - I mean that in the context that I often get sideways looks from others I encounter on trails and riversides hiking along yelling "HEY BEAR" repeatedly. It seems, and feels silly to do it, but no one can deny that out of all the multiple bear encouters I have had, they were ALL times that I got lazy and failed to yell "HEY BEAR" as I hiked along. I have been bluff charged - it was scary ! - it all happened so fast there was no time to think, let alone respond. I was alone, and it was my fault (see paragraph above). Before the fact I had a knife, bear spray or bangers even occured to me, the gravel hit my face from the bear high-tailing it back the other way. If I took you to the spot where the bear was drinking water on the edge of the river you would be shocked - I could crouch down in that spot and grab your leg as you went by and you would never see me till it was all over. This is, and was, the exact type of scenario that will get a fly angler killed. Just like the elderly woman killed by a cougar X-country skiing on Minnawanka, the Girl in Canmore who ran and climbed a tree, and the folks in tents in the campground that were attacked about 15 years ago. Pro-active measures preventing the encounter are the only proven effective survival strategy. Bear Bells - I wear two on my pack - do bear bells scare away bears, no, of course not. What they do, is give a bear an opportunity to be aware of your presence, with enough lead time to identify what, or who, you are, from enough of a distance that an involuntary fight or flight response is not provoked. Is this foolproof ? of course not. Will you encounter circumstances in the backcountry where a bear bell may prevent you from surprising a bear - spend enough time out there and I garrantee you will, ...eventually. - the thing with bear bells, is that IF they work as intended, you will never know it. (Would a curious bear come investigate a bell maybe, but curious bears do all kinds of wierd stuff, and that same bear may be just as likely to come investigate you, or your noise or your smell, or your dog, reagrdless of the stats, you are still eliminating the element of surprise from the interaction, and if you don't see the value in that, you simply not giving predators their due respect) Seeing bear tracks on your trail ? - don't freak out. I constantly see bear, cougar, and wolf tracks overlaid over my own - doesn't mean your being tracked - remember, your easist route of travel, is also the easiest route of travel for everything else in the woods too. Just take the extra precautions and make alot of noise. It is almost shocking to me how often I see evidence of a bear I passed by very closely without ever actually seeing it. I saw a suggestion on another board - a fella fires a bear banger at the start of his hike to clear the way - can't knock that, seems like a good idea if you don't mind spending the cash on Bangers. I have bangers and screamers and flares (screamers apparently work best BTW) so far these are the occassions I have used them - 1) every year I start the Sir Norman Watson Stage race with a banger. 2) after scoring a the biggest Pike of our group, flyfishing at Wolf Lake I got drunk and fired all of them off for the fun of it. 3) I carry the kit when on my pontton on big water where I question my ability to swim to shore if my boat sank - Point is that despite all the encouters and situations I have been in, not once, in my judgement, was firing a banger a good idea. If you feel complelled to try it please make sure you shoot either straight up or behind you otherwise risk sending the bear your way. Guns, rifles etc - I saw the post on another board from a guy who was with someone who swung around and shot a cougar as at lept at him from behind, woooo-hoooo !!!! holy hollywood moment !!!! - I don't know the guy or anything but I sure hope to hell I never walk up behind him on a trail. I hunt and I have nothing against folks who want to bear arms but that said, I would refer to my third paragraph - In term of keeping a weapon in Camp, I have no trouble seeing the value in that. I would hope that most folks here share my love of wild places and the creatures they contain, and as such recognize that not taking appropriate precautions, and ending up in a bear/human encounter that provokes an aggresive response from the bear, will most certainly result in a death sentence for the bear (if you report it), if you don't, it could mean a death sentence for the next hiker who comes along. So yes there is value in talking about what to do once in the depths of an encounter, but please try to focus on preventing that scenario in the first place. Frypan - start a thread called "Frypan learns to spell" and then mess around with the spellcheck button till ya figure it out LOL

Lengthy discussion on the topic : Click here Frypan - Your spelling is just getting ridiculous, since you chose to "rub it in" to the rest of us working taxpayers that you love being on EI so much, how about taking 10 seconds out of your busy day and using the spell check option. I figure since the rest of us are paying you to sit at home, that can be your new job ! - Performance appraisal will be forthcoming upon your next post